Multipurpose Personal Blanket

ABSTRACT

A multipurpose personal blanket includes a blanket member having a front side opposite a back side and opposed side edges connecting the front and back sides, the blanket member having upper and lower ends extending between the side edges. The blanket includes a padded area proximate the blanket member upper end. The blanket member defines a hole proximate the padded area configured to receive the head of the person therethrough. The blanket member includes an elongate configuration such that a torso, legs, and feet are covered when the person&#39;s head is in the hole. The blanket includes a foot pocket attached to the back side of the blanket member that defines an interior space with an open top for access thereto. The hole is offset from the padded area so that a user&#39;s head is supported thereby when a wearer is in a recumbent position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present invention claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/316,085, filed on Mar. 22, 2010 titledMULTIPURPOSE PERSONAL BLANKET.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to blankets and, more particularly, toa blanket that includes an integrated pillow/headrest and a holesuitable for receiving a user's head therethrough so as to access thepillow/headrest.

Traditional blankets typically have relatively large square orrectangular configurations and are useful substantially covering anentire bed. A person desiring to use a blanket to stay warm, whether inbed, outdoors, or an interior area that is not adequately heated mustrepeatedly snuggle the blanket up around his neck or even wrap theblanket around his legs and neck. Especially inconvenient is having toreposition the blanket to cover a user's torso, head, hands, and feeteach time he stands up, changes positions, or moves from one location toanother. Even positioning a pillow under one's head may cause a portionof the blanket to be dislodged from a previously set position. Anothercommon problem with using a loose blanket is keeping one's feet frompoking out one of the unsecured sides.

Various devices have been proposed in the art for providing a personalblanket that is designed to keep a single user warm or dry and thatstays in position despite a user's movements. For instance, atraditional “poncho” is a garment having a hole through which a user'shead may be inserted such that the remainder of the garmentsubstantially covers the user's body even when the user is movingaround. Although assumably effective for its intended purposes, a ponchois not comfortable to recline in, say on a couch or reclining chair inthat the poncho completely surround a wearer's body, does not ordinarilycover a wearer's feet, and does not provide a headrest for use whenreclining. Other full size blankets also have limited effectiveness inthat they are not conducive to vehicle or airplane travel.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have a multipurpose blanket thatdefines a head hole that keeps the blanket positioned for coverage ofthe front of a wearer, includes a pillow pocket for maintaining a paddedarea proximate the head hole, and includes a foot pocket for maintainingcoverage of a wearer's feet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A multipurpose personal blanket according to the present inventionincludes a blanket member having a front side opposite a back side andopposed side edges connecting the front and back sides, the blanketmember having upper and lower ends extending between the side edges. Theblanket includes a padded area proximate the blanket member upper end.The blanket member defines a hole proximate the padded area configuredto receive the head of the person therethrough. The blanket memberincludes an elongate configuration such that a torso, legs, and feet arecovered when the person's head is in the hole. The blanket includes afoot pocket attached to the back side of the blanket member that definesan interior space with an open top for access thereto. The hole isoffset from the padded area so that a user's head is supported therebywhen a wearer is in a recumbent position.

Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide amultipurpose blanket that may be worn over a person's head and thatmaintains a desired position relative to a wearer's body.

Another object of this invention is to provide a multipurpose blanket,as aforesaid, that includes a pillow pocket that may be selectivelypositioned to support the head of a wearer.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a multipurposeblanket, as aforesaid, having a foot pocket for receiving a wearer'sfeet therein when the blanket is worn by a user.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a multipurposeblanket, as aforesaid, that maintains a position cover a wearer thereoffrom the shoulders to the feet.

A further object of this invention is to provide a multipurpose blanket,as aforesaid, that is easy to use and economical to produce.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration andexample, embodiments of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multipurpose personal blanketaccording to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the blanket as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a back view of the blanket as in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the blanket as in FIG. 1 in being wornby a person illustrated in a reclined position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A multi-purpose personal blanket according to a preferred embodiment ofthe present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to4 of the accompanying drawings. The multipurpose blanket 10 includes ablanket member 20 that defines a head hole 32, a pillow pocket 40, and afoot pocket 50.

The blanket member 20 includes a front side 22 opposite a back side 24and opposed side edges 26 situated longitudinally to the front 22 andback 24 sides. The blanket member 20 may have a unitary construction(i.e. is a single layer) or may include multiple layers connected by theside edges 26. The blanket member 20 includes upper 28 and lower 30 endsextending laterally between opposed side edges 26. Preferably, theblanket member 20 includes a generally rectangular configurationalthough other configurations would also be suitable. It should beappreciated that the blanket member 20 does not define an overall openspace in the nature of a sleeping bag but rather a single layer ofblanket material, such as fleece or the like.

The blanket member 20 includes a padded area 40 attached to the upperend 28 thereof and extending outwardly therefrom. More particularly, theupper end 28 may integrally form the padded area 40 as best shown inFIG. 3. The padded area 40 may have a folded configuration so as to forma pocket and is also referred to herein as a “pillow pocket” for reasonsthat will become clear below. The pillow pocket/padded area 40 definesan interior space 42 and at least one side opening 44 that providesaccess to the interior space 42. Preferably, the opening 44 is inlinewith a respective blanket member side edge 26. In other words, thepillow pocket opening 44 is situated generally along a longitudinal axisestablished by a respective blanket member side edge 26. Themultipurpose blanket 10 may also include a pillow 46 having aconfiguration complementary to a configuration of the padded areainterior space 42 such that the pillow 46 may be selectively andremovably inserted and positioned therein.

In addition, at least one fastener 48 is situated in or proximate to theinterior space 42 and suitable to removably hold the pillow 46 withinthe interior space 42. For instance, a hook and loop fastener may befixedly attached to an interior surface of the padded area 40 that isable to grip the pillow 46 although complementary fasteners may be onboth the padded area interior surface and on the pillow 46 to enhancethe coupling. It is understood that other types of fasteners may beutilized, such as snaps, zippers, buckles, or the like.

The blanket member 20 defines a hole 32 proximate the upper end 28thereof and having a configuration that is complementary to the shape ofa person's head such that a person's head may be received therethrough.When a person inserts his head through the hole, or rather receives theblanket member 20 onto his body by placing the hole 32 over his head,the multipurpose blanket 10 may be worn by the user (also referred toherein as a “wearer” of the garment). Preferably, the hole 32 is offsetfrom the upper end 28 and padded area 40 such that a person's head, wheninserted through the hole 32 will be positioned so as to be supported bythe padded area 40 when the wearer of the blanket member 20 is in arecumbent or reclined position (Fig. ??). Preferably, the hole 32 isequally offset between the opposed side edges 26 such that the blanketmember 20 maintains its position on the front of a wearer's body.

The multipurpose blanket 10 may also include a foot pocket 50 positionedon the back side 24 and adjacent to the lower end 30 of the blanketmember 20. The foot pocket 50 includes a closed bottom fixedly attachedto the blanket member back side 24 and positioned substantially at theblanket member lower end 30. The foot pocket 50 also includes closedside edges attached to the back side 24 and extending upwardly alongrespective blanket member side edges 26 so as to define an open top andinterior space configured to receive a user's feet therein. It isunderstood that the blanket member 20 includes an elongate configurationsuch that a user's torso, legs, and feet are covered when worn over theuser's head.

In use, a user (i.e. a “wearer”) of the multipurpose blanket 10 mayinsert his head through the blanket member hole 32 from the back side 24toward the front side 22 thereof such that the blanket member 20 ispositioned to cover a front side of the wearer's torso, legs, and feet.A user's arms are free to be positioned beneath the blanket member 20 orto be extended around respective side edges 26. Once the blanket member20 has been draped over the front side of a wearer, the wearer mayinsert his feet into the foot pocket 50. The configuration of the hole32, central positioning of the hole 32 between respective side edges 26,the freedom to extend one's arms around the side edges 26, being able toinsert one's feet into the foot pocket 50, and the ability to reclineone's head against the padded area 40 all enhance the ability tomaintain the blanket member 20 in a desired position on the front sideof a wearer.

Accordingly, it can be seen that the multipurpose blanket 10 isparticularly suited for covering a person in a reclined position on acouch, reclining chair, deck chair, or the like and includes particularstructures for maintaining a desired position and for keeping a user'storso, hands, and feet warm.

It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have beenillustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar assuch limitations are included in the following claims and allowablefunctional equivalents thereof.

1. A multipurpose personal blanket for use in covering a person,comprising: a blanket member having a front side opposite a back sideand opposed side edges connecting said front and back sides, saidblanket member having upper and lower ends extending between said sideedges; a padded area proximate said blanket member upper end; andwherein said blanket member defines a hole proximate said padded area.2. The blanket as in claim 1, wherein said blanket upper end includes afolded configuration so as to form a pocket.
 3. The blanket as in claim2, wherein said padded area defines an interior space and at least oneopening that provides access to said interior space; said blanketfurther comprising a pillow removably positioned in said interior space.4. The blanket as in claim 3, further comprising at least one fastenersituated proximate said opening configured to selectively hold saidpillow in said interior space.
 5. The blanket as in claim 4, whereinsaid fastener is one of a hook and loop fastener, a snap, or a zipper.6. The blanket as in claim 1, wherein said hole is situated an equaldistance between respective blanket member side edges such that saidblanket member is held in position on a front of a person when saidperson's head is inserted through said hole.
 7. The blanket as in claim1, wherein said hole is offset from said upper end.
 8. The blanket as inclaim 1, wherein said hole is offset from said upper end and from saidpadded area such that said padded area is configured to support saidperson's head when said person is in a recumbent position.
 9. Theblanket as in claim 1, wherein said blanket member includes an elongateconfiguration such that a torso, legs, and feet are covered when saidperson's head is in said hole.
 10. The blanket as in claim 3, whereinsaid opening providing access to said interior space is situatedlongitudinally along a respective blanket member side edge.
 11. Theblanket as in claim 10, further comprising, a foot pocket attached tosaid back side of said blanket member adjacent said blanket member lowerend, said foot pocket having a closed bottom and pair of opposed sideedges fixedly attached to said back side of said blanket member anddefining an open top edge, wherein said foot pocket defines an interiorspace configured to selectively receive a person's feet therein.
 12. Theblanket as in claim 3, further comprising, a foot pocket attached tosaid back side of said blanket member adjacent said blanket member lowerend, said foot pocket having a closed bottom and pair of opposed sideedges fixedly attached to said back side of said blanket member anddefining an open top edge, wherein said foot pocket defines an interiorspace configured to selectively receive a person's feet therein.
 13. Theblanket as in claim 3, further comprising, a foot pocket attached tosaid back side of said blanket member adjacent said blanket member lowerend, said foot pocket having a closed bottom and pair of opposed sideedges fixedly attached to said back side of said blanket member anddefining an open top edge, wherein said foot pocket defines an interiorspace configured to selectively receive a person's feet therein.